Through loss and victory, the Bedford Alpine Ski team has seen it all, never failing to prioritize community over shiny trophies.

At three pm on practice days, each team member hauls nearly 80 pounds of ski equipment onto a school bus. Music booms through the speakers during the forty-minute drive to Pats Peak, filling the air with an orchestra of laughter. Sometimes, one or two teammates stand to give speeches about the team, offering constructive criticism wrapped in encouragement. This is the Bedford High School Alpine Ski Team—where the journey matters as much as the destination.

Since Bedford High School opened in 2007, the Alpine Ski Team has made the school proud, bringing home a state title nearly every year and qualifying for championships each season. The program has grown exponentially from its humble beginnings when the school's librarian served as the first coach. Now, under Coach Phil and Coach Liz, the team welcomes new members each year, building something far greater than a collection of race times.

The season begins long before the first snowfall. Starting at Thanksgiving, the team meets for indoor training, focusing on fitness and workouts. But positive team dynamics remain the top priority. The coaches regularly swap rigorous training for dodgeball, baseball, and broomball, joining in the fun themselves. This creates an accepting environment that fosters both growth and healthy competition. Players trust one another and lift each other up after losses—a foundation that Coach Phil and Coach Liz credit for the team's sustained success.

The team practices on Mondays and Tuesdays, with races on Thursdays. They train at Pats Peak, where the mountain crew sections off a trail from the public and sets up a course. The coaches encourage different partnerships each practice as teammates ride the chairlifts in pairs, strengthening bonds across grade levels and skill levels. Despite welcoming skiers with varying experience—from recreational skiers to those with mountain team backgrounds—no one has ever quit the team. Coach Liz captures it simply: "Kids come home, having been gone all day, with smiles." The team arrives back at BHS around 8:30 pm, exhausted but connected.

 The Challenge of Racing 

Competitions take place across New Hampshire's premier ski mountains, from Pats Peak to Bretton Woods, a two-hour drive north. Skiers race to complete courses as quickly as possible, requiring the precision to navigate gates without missing a single one. Each placement earns points, advancing the team toward States, the Meet of Champions at Cannon Mountain, and Easterns.

The sport demands constant adaptation. Snow and weather conditions shift dramatically, stealing precious time from an already short season. While the general ski season runs from December to mid-March, the BHS team competes only from January to February break. One day brings soft, pillowy powder; the next, skis screech against sheets of pure ice.

Captain Andie Nugent helps minimize tensions by reminding players that "nothing is guaranteed." She works to create an encouraging environment, helping new racers discover the passion she found in the sport years ago. She sees her role as supporting everyone's individual journey, balancing competitive growth with lifelong memories. Her personal goal this season is to perfect her turn line—the strategic path around the gates. "There is a lot of strategy," she explains, noting how techniques must adjust between lengthy and shorter courses. "It takes a lot of effort."

Fun traditions punctuate the intensity. Players decorate themselves with colored glitter to celebrate Bedford in their own unique way. Senior Night brings costumes and celebration as each senior races while the whole team cheers. To Andie, "those smiles were worth so much more than any award or podium finish will ever be,"—a sentiment that captures how the team carries itself.

In 2024, the team faced its greatest challenge off the slopes. They lost Henry Wirch—a teammate, peer, and friend—to a rare form of cancer. His death, though not unexpected, brought deep sorrow to the team, the school, and the wider community.

The team mourned together and found a way to honor Henry's spirit. They established the Henry Wirch Perseverance Award, recognizing one teammate each season who shows continued determination and growth. The first recipient was Conrad Wirch, Henry's younger brother, who demonstrated tremendous grace and resilience throughout that ski season.

As a current co-captain alongside John Purnell, Ashley Dambach, and Andie Nugent, Conrad has spent countless hours collaborating and organizing the team, never giving up in the face of challenges. Andie recalls moments when Conrad felt disappointed in his own performance, yet he would still congratulate and compliment others on theirs—embodying the perseverance the award represents.

The team also bought customized sweatpants in Henry's honor and wears blue ribbons tucked under their jackets, weaving his encouraging spirit throughout the fabric of everything they do.

Today, the team looks forward to competing for another consecutive state title and reaching new heights within the program. The captains continue building on the foundation laid by coaches and teammates before them, welcoming new skiers into a culture that has never lost a member to attrition.

Because at the BHS Alpine Ski Team, victory is not just about crossing the finish line—it is about who you ski beside along the way. Through indoor training sessions and broomball games, through icy conditions and personal loss, through Senior Night celebrations and quiet moments of support, this team has learned what matters most. They just keep skiing. Together.